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Monthly Archives: June 2010

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In a new nearly weekly feature, we’ll highlight moments in Super-history where Superman cried. Solely on the merit of the first decade of this century, we should have enough material to last into the next millennium. To kick things off, we present a relatively recent, well known, and bizarre instance. So grab your Kleenex and have a good cry with the Man of Steel.

CHRONICLES OF WORMWOOD LAST BATTLE #4 (OF 6) – It’s been quite a while since we saw the last issue of CoW come out, which is a shame since it’s the funniest comic you can buy that doesn’t involve Muppets. As long as, you know…nothing ever offends you. Ever.

GREEN LANTERN #55 – After Green Lantern #54 I put this title On Notice, in that it’s only one bad issue away from getting dropped from my pull list. But with Lobo in this month’s issue it’s safe for now.

HERBIE 7 INCH VINYL FIGURE – For Matt.

MUPPET SHOW #7 – And speaking of Muppets, issue #7 of the main title comes out this week. Even though I still somewhat miss Roger Langridge’s art, Amy Mebberson’s is definitely growing on me. Her smooth linework is so dead-on it makes me feel like I’m watching an episode of the Muppet Show, especially when she manages to make the pigs or frogs tuck their noses into their mouth.

Usually I’m fairly autonomous in the comics I pick up every week, but after reading Matt’s Game Tape last Thursday I was convinced to pass on Superman #700 and pick up Fantastic Four #580 instead. I may never know if Superman was as big a letdown as he said, but picking up FF was a great move. I’ve only been sporadically picking up issues in the Hickman run, but I’ve been pleased each time so I think this will move to the regular pull list. The main story with Arcade was light and well done-in-one, but the Reed-lead Future Foundation is terrific, and I’m anxious to see where Ben Grimm’s “High Cost of Living”-esque story goes. Hickman’s dialogue really shines, but I was incredibly impressed by the linework of Neil Edwards’ Bryan Hitch-meets-Alan Davis pencils. THIS is what the Fantastic Four should be like.

When going over last week’s new releases I apparently spaced over Thunderbolts, the second issue of Jeff Parker’s run with Luke Cage taking over the team. This is the best incarnation of the team I’ve read since the early Busiek days, as Cage and the team all start feeling each other out and exploring their limitations. You know, like the T. Rex in Jurassic Park. And for whatever reason, the presence of Man-Thing takes the book to a whole other level, even if he doesn’t do very much yet.

We here at LEMUR, have been given a really big break. Through many back channels and dealings with shadowy men and women in shadowy garages, we have received three pages of JMS’s script for Superman #706. This scene is squarely set within his Grounded storyline.

As you may or may not know, this storyline has Superman reconnecting with America and Americans by walking across country. During this trek he encounters average people and their average problems. How does he react? How do we average people react to someone so super(?)? What does he learn? What can we learn from a man who straddles two worlds?

Perhaps there are clues in this exclusive sneak preview.

PAGE 1

This is a four panel page with normal borders. The panels should run horizontally.

Panel 1

Basically a crane shot looking down a typical suburban street with ranch style houses. We see a lone figure walking in the middle of the street (Clark Kent). The sun is setting, it’s dusk or nearly. In the distance, on the street maybe a car pulling into a driveway? Something to establish that people are getting home from work.

Caption

Thornton, a suburb of Denver

Panel 2

A dolly shot of Clark walking past a house. Clark is wearing a plaid flannel shirt with khaki pants. He’s carrying a green army rucksack over his shoulder, and he’s whistling. There’s dialogue on this panel, but it’s spoken by characters in the distance. With Clark’s super-hearing, he’ll hear it clearly, but we need to make it look “distant.”

Male voice1

Well dear, what do you want to do for dinner?

Female voice2

I don’t know sweetie, I decided last night. It’s your turn.

Male3

You wanna go out?

Female4

Maybe. I don’t want to have to change my clothes.

Panel 3

Essentially the same shot, but Clark is outside a different house. No longer whistling, the look on his face shows interest or intrigue. Someone listening intently. The Distant voices are near now. Coming from this house.

Female1

How about Mexican?

Male2

Ummmm… Chinese?

Clark

This looks like a job…

Panel 4

Close up of Clark’s face. He’s removing his glasses and setting his jaw to square determination.

Clark

For SUPERMAN!

PAGE 2

This page is three panels. Panel 1 runs across the page and is half of the page. The second and third are underneath it sitting side by side.

Panel 1

House interior: facing the front door. Superman fills the opened door’s frame. The owner of the male voice is standing there astounded and speechless. As is his wife (the owner of the female voice), both are in their early thirties and have that young professional look.

Superman

Good evening folk’s. I couldn’t help but hear your dilemma. I was in the neighborhood. Maybe I can be of help. At any rate, I’d like to give it a try

Going out isn’t the only option. I see you’ve got quite a full refrigerator.

Why not make a meal together?

Superman 3

You could talk about your respective days. Reconnect and relax.

Cooking together is a great social activity.

Superman 4

And why not skip dessert? Take a walk around your neighborhood.

Meet some of your neighbors and have some exercise too.

Panel 3

Kitchen interior. Through the window, we see Superman walking outside in the twilight, whistling. The couple are happily preparing a meal together.

Husband

You know, that Superman’s a regular guy.

He was right. This is fun.

Wife

Yeah! Too bad he wouldn’t stay for dinner.

I’ve got so many questions I’ve always wanted to ask him.

PAGE 3

We’ve got a splash page here. It’s a deserted highway. There are mountains on the left hand side, and Clark walks along the road into the sunset carrying his rucksack. He’s wearing a plaid flannel shirt and khaki pants. There’s a highway sign that reads, “DENVER 8 Miles.”

Caption

Feeling out of touch with humans and Americans in particular,

Superman decided to reconnect with them.

To share and experience their hopes, fears, and desires. In order to do this, he must be…

TITLE

GROUNDED part 4

“I want to do whatever common people do.”

CREDITS

JMS

Script

Eddy Barrows

Artist

Colors

Letterer

Eddie Berganza

Editor

Superman Created by

Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster

*Or totally made up having nothing to do with JMS or the actual Grounded story line in any way shape of form.

If you’re bored and a fan of Green Lantern, I’ve got a couple of special treats for you.

First up is a link to instructions on how to cast a resin GL ring. It’s a step by step process with a materials list included. There are additional instructions for making a glowing ring! I haven’t tried it yet, but it looks user friendly for a beginner like myself. It also seems reasonable to extrapolate this process for the fabrication of other resin items (a Legion Flight Ring?)

What good is a ring without a power battery? Here’s how to make one on the cheap. This one requires less skill and specialized materials. It’s also functional in that it lights up (WARNING lantern will not charge actual or fabricated rings).

Okay, now you’ve caught your villain…What are you going to do with him? Not every prison is a Blackgate, Vault, or Arkham. Some are well-intentioned but poorly designed. Others are just…bad. For this week’s LIST we present: